Generation Y and the Workplace Annual Report 2010 - Haworth

8
Executive Summary Continued...
When it comes to Facilities Management (FM), the
preference of Generation Y suggests that FM is
not only about managing buildings, but about
supporting people. FM service delivery will need
to go further in the future to provide high quality
people focused services.
While the financial benefits of flexible working are
clear to business owners, work will have to be done
with Generation Y to help them to trade dedicated
desks and personalisation for mobility and team
oriented spaces. Mobile technology will be an
unavoidable support here.
The workplace can directly support and influence
the Generation Y through a workplace that enables
individuals and teams to collaborate and engage
with each other, and human resources policies
which actively promote flexible working and
alternative ways of working:
The workplace is important in attracting and
retaining the Generation Y
The type of workplace and its location
influences the choice of a company
The workspace allocation and technological
provisions contribute to productivity and
creativity
The working arrangements must be flexible
and adaptable to satisfy a work life balance
they demand
Global WorkPlace Innovation
The workplace must support both formal
and informal collaborative engagement and
interaction
The workplace contributes to the level of
emotional engagement of individuals with
their work
The factors contributing to talent attraction and
retention are expressed via:
Having the right workplace – location, access
Having the right workspace – design, layout,
furniture and colours and style
Having the right atmosphere – meeting and
social spaces for interaction and ambiance
Having the right technological platform –
technology provisions, mobile devices
We have yet to feel the full force of this global
trend. Will Generation Y continue to be such a
special generation, feted and wooed for their
talent, if the balance of power reverts to employers
as labour markets tighten? Is this new generation
of ‘aliens’ and ‘invaders’ really ready to transform
our workplace in mega complexes, social hubs
and high tech workspaces? Will employers be
ready and engage to support these changes?
It remains crucially important to understand what
things matter most to the 18 – 25 years old.
The data reveal a fascinating insight into this
new generation and how they are and behave
compared to previous one.
Having understood these needs:
Employers will find it near on impossible to
deliver on all theise demands
Success will be about compromising and
determining the essentialsdetermining the
essentials
Copyright © 2010, Johnson Controls. Confidential. All Rights Reserved.
Intellectual Property Johnson Controls, Haworth and iDEA.
• Sustainable: 96% want
an environmentally aware
workplace
• Flexible: 56% prefer to work
flexibly and chose when to work
• Mobile: 79% prefer to be mobile
rather than static workers
• Unconventional: 40% of the
Generation Y would like to take
their car to go to work, 20%
by public transport and 18%
walking!
• Life Long Learning Experience:
The reasons for choosing a
company are:
1: Opportunities for Learning
2: Quality of Life
3: Work Colleagues
• Collaborative: 41% of the
Generation Y prefers to have
access to a team space and
32% prefers breakout spaces
rather than a conventional
meeting room
9